U.S. Vetoes of Security Council Resolutions:
Resolution on UN Observer Force - S/2001/270

(March 27, 2001)

"Reaffirming the need for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace
in the Middle East based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967)
of 22 November 1967, and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and reaffirming
also all its previous relevant resolutions, including its resolution
1322 (2000) of 7 October 2000,

"Expressing its grave concern at the continuation of the tragic
and violent events that have taken place since September 2000, resulting
in many deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinians,

"Reiterating the need for protection of all civilians as expressed
in its resolutions 1265 (1999) and 1296 (2000),

"Expressing its determination to contribute to ending the violence,
protecting Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories and promoting
dialogue between the Israeli and Palestinian sides,

"Expressing its support for the efforts of the Secretary-General
and the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East peace
process,

"Reiterating the need for Israel, the occupying Power, to abide
scrupulously by its legal obligations and its responsibilities under
the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949,

"Expressing grave concern at the dire economic and humanitarian
situation as a result of the closures of the occupied Palestinian territories
and towns and villages within them,

"1. Calls for the immediate cessation of all acts of violence,
provocation and collective punishment, as well as the return to the
positions and arrangements which existed prior to September 2000;

"2. Calls upon the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority
to implement promptly and without preconditions the understandings reached
at the Summit convened at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, of 17 October 2000;

"3. Urges a resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace
process on its agreed basis taking into account the previous positive
developments in the negotiations between the two sides and calls on
them to reach a final agreement on all issues, on the basis of their
previous agreements, with the objective of implementing its resolutions
242 (1967) and 338 (1973);

"4. Expresses grave concern at recent settlement activities, in
particular the recent decision to expand the settlement at Jabal Abu
Ghneim and calls for full cessation of settlement activities;

"5. Calls on the parties to take the following immediate steps:

"(a) resumption of contacts at all levels on implementation of
reciprocal commitments including in the field of security previously
made by both sides;

"(b) an end to the closures of the occupied Palestinian territories
to permit resumption of full normal activities of daily life;

"(c) the transfer by Israel to the Palestinian Authority of all
revenues due, in accordance with the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations
of 29 April 1994;

"(d) additional confidence-building measures by both sides including
unequivocal public statements in support of all commitments made at
Sharm El-Sheikh and of this resolution;

"6. Expresses full support for the work of the Fact-Finding Committee
established at Sharm El-Sheikh, calls upon all parties to cooperate
fully with it, and looks forward to its report;

"7. Appeals to the international donor community to extend, as
rapidly and as generously as possible, economic and financial assistance
to the Palestinian people, and stresses in this regard the importance
of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee;

"8. Requests the Secretary-General to consult the parties on immediate
and substantive steps to implement this resolution and to report to
the Council within one month of the adoption of this resolution and
expresses the readiness of the Council to act upon receipt of the report
to set up an appropriate mechanism to protect Palestinian civilians,
including through the establishment of a United Nations observer force;